15 | Progress test

Working with words Language at work

Choose the correct answer from the words in italics. Complete these sentences with the past perfect or
past continuous of the verbs in brackets.
1 What we look for in staff is 100% dedication /
punctuality to the job. 21 I __________ (work) in a hotel bar when I first
2 Most importantly, nurses must be very confident / met him.
caring people. 22 I mentioned it, and he said he __________
3 The most highly motivated / patient staff are not (already / ask) them.
those who want a bonus, but those who naturally 23 By the time they arrived, the guests __________
want to make things work. (leave) and gone home.
4 We don’t really work fixed hours. Some days you
24 Why __________ (you / talk) to them just now?
might work late and other days you might leave a
You’re not thinking of working for them, are you?
little earlier. We like a flexible / helpful approach
to the working day. 25 She ate her sandwich while she __________
5 I’m afraid your work record so far hasn’t been (still / work) on her computer. It isn’t good for
very good. You don’t seem very dependable / her.
dependant. For example, last month you were late 26 The appraisal said he __________ (not /
for work four times. improve) his performance in the last six months
6 I remember when I was as creative / ambitious as and things needed to change.
him and wanted to reach the top of the company. 27 When I first started in business, they
7 Patience / Enthusiasm is a key quality in __________ (not / invent) computers!
customer care, especially when you have to listen 28 I don’t think he __________ (do) anything when
to customers complaining about products. I spoke to him earlier, so he probably has time to
8 One of the most creative / hardest-working help.
members of staff is Gill. She’s always here first. I 29 Can I have a word? Why __________ (you /
think we should give her a bonus. send) an email to a friend when I walked past
your desk just now? You know our rules on that,
Business communication skills don’t you?
30 I saw the report on the accident, but only after the
There is one mistake in each phrase. Correct it. same thing __________ (happen) three more
times.
9 We’re very please with your performance.
_______ Result __________ / 30 marks
10 You done a good job. _______
11 You seem to be do very well. _______
12 Perhaps one thing to work along is your
communication skills. _______
13 How do you think about these changes? _______
14 How are you getting up with your new job?
_______
15 One of your key strongs is listening. _______
16 I think this is an area for improve. _______
17 So let summarize what we’ve agreed. _______
18 One thing you’re going do is a training course.
_______
19 How does that hear to you? _______
20 Are there anything else you’d like to add?
_______

Business Result Intermediate Progress Test 15 Photocopiable © Oxford University Press

Speaking test
Role cards
Copy this page and cut out the role cards for the students. Students should do both role-plays. Then use the
Speaking test results forms to evaluate each student’s performance. You can then cut out the results and give
them to the students.

Student A  request training in report-writing.

1 You are giving a six-month performance
review to an employee in your sales office:
 tell the employee that you’re very happy
with his / her performance
 comment on his / her teamwork
 find out how he / she feels
 suggest that he / she takes some training in
sales on the telephone
 summarize the discussion and set some
objectives.
2 You are having your six-month performance
review with the manager of your sales office:
 explain that you are not very happy
because you don’t think you are being
given enough responsibility
 say you would like more involvement in
the recruitment process of new staff.
Student B
1 You are having your six-month performance
review with the manager of your sales office:
 explain that you are basically happy, but that
you would like to make more sales
 request some computer training with Excel.
2 You are giving a six-month performance review
to an employee in your human resources
department:
 tell the employee that you’re fairly happy with
his / her performance
 comment on the good work he / she has done so
far
 find out how he / she feels
 suggest that he / she takes some training in how
to interview candidates for jobs
 summarize the discussion and set some
objectives.

Speaking test results

Use these forms to evaluate the students.

Student A Student B

Can the student ... Didn’t do this Yes, but with Yes, did this Can the student ... Didn’t do this Yes, but with Yes, did this
(0 points) some mistakes very well (0 points) some mistakes very well
(1 point) (2 points) (1 point) (2 points)

assess overall assess overall

performance? performance?

give feedback? give feedback?

encourage self- encourage self-

evaluation? evaluation?

suggest some suggest some

objectives? objectives?

set and agree some set and agree some

objectives? objectives?

Result __________/ 10 marks Result __________/ 10 marks

Business Result Intermediate Progress Test 15 Photocopiable © Oxford University Press